‍So much of the food world is centered on the Mediterranean right now. Or at least that’s what Pinterest would have you believe. From Deliciously Dishes to BuzzFeed, everyone is clamoring about how great the Mediterranean diet is and how you should eat precisely that if you want to be healthy. 

It is weird because most of those articles aren’t talking about eating more fish and olive oil; they advise you to cut out bread, pasta, red meat, and sugar. In reality, we all know that different cultures have different staples based on what’s available locally or regionally; an onion in France costs as much as a chicken wing in another part of the country.

The staples of one culture are not universal. That being said, there are some fantastic benefits to following a Mediterranean-inspired diet.

Keto has many similarities with this way of eating (especially in olive oil), but it’s also very different. Here are five reasons why going Keto could be the best thing for your health:

You’ll lose weight and keep it off.

If you follow a ketogenic diet, you will most likely lose weight. When you’re not eating tons of carbs, your body burns fat for energy instead. And since fat is a much more abundant energy source than carbs, you’ll live more comfortably without worrying about constantly being hungry.

When you’re in ketosis, your body burns less blood sugar and more fat, which has many incredible benefits. First off, you’ll have tons of energy because you won’t feel constantly hungry. And second, you’ll be losing weight without even trying.

Keto is one of the best diets for weight loss because it’s all about keeping insulin levels low. Insulin is a hormone that can cause your body to store excess fat.

Eating fewer carbs makes your body produce less insulin, which in turn makes it easier to lose weight. If you’re struggling to lose weight, going on Keto could be just what you need.

You’ll feel more energetic.

Think of carbs as a slow-burning fuel that takes a while to get you going. Fat, however, is a quick burst of energy that is also long-lasting. When you’re in ketosis, your body primarily burns fat for energy, so you’ll feel more energetic throughout the day.

You’ll also find that you’re less tired than usual after workouts. When you’re not using carbs for energy, your body will rely on fat and protein for strength and stamina. For many people, going on Keto also helps boost their mood.

Low-carb diets are often associated with lower serotonin levels, the chemical in your brain that makes you feel good. On Keto, though, serotonin production can increase because your body uses fat as a source of energy instead of carbs. So you’ll feel more positive and relaxed while also having more energy to do the things you love.

Your brain function will improve.

Unlike many diets, Keto doesn’t adversely affect brain function. It has the potential to improve your cognitive abilities. That’s because Keto is associated with lower levels of inflammation in the body, which is a critical factor in many diseases.

Your cognitive impairment risk increases with diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. Going Keto has been shown to reduce levels of inflammation in the body, which can help improve the health of your brain.

It’s beneficial for people who have diabetes. Consuming fewer carbohydrates can help lower the risk of cognitive impairment in people with diabetes. It can also help improve memory in people who don’t have any chronic diseases.

Your risk of chronic diseases will go down.

One of the best things about the keto diet is that you’re likely to decrease your risk of chronic diseases while following it. All the foods you’re encouraged to eat on Keto — like lots of vegetables and fish — are good for you. They’re high in nutrients and low in calories, which means that you can eat as much as you want without worrying about gaining weight.

Eating more vegetables daily is one of the best things you can do for your health. They’re low in calories and high in fiber, which can help improve digestion and lower the risk of heart disease. Going Keto also means consuming less sugar and refined grains, which can help reduce your risk of diabetes.

Keto is sustainable — you won’t feel hungry all the time.

When you go on a low-carb diet, you’ll probably experience a few days when you always feel hungry. However, once your body is used to burning fat for energy instead of carbs, you won’t feel hungry all the time anymore.

You’ll likely feel less hungry than usual. That’s because people often mistake feelings of hunger for boredom or thirst rather than a genuine need for food.

When you’re in ketosis, you’ll eat less than you usually would because your body won’t crave carbs as much. It will make your diet more sustainable long-term, a significant benefit for anyone trying to lose weight. Going on a diet and failing to maintain it is pretty standard, so any diet that’s easy to maintain is a great choice.

It means eating more high-quality fats.

According to some studies, diets that are high in fat are better for you than ones that are high in protein. That’s because eating more fat than protein can help reduce the risk of disease, especially heart disease.

Although we all need some fat in our diets, most people don’t eat nearly enough of it. You’ll be encouraged to eat healthier fats like avocados and nuts and fatty fish like salmon and tuna on a keto diet.

Eating more fats can also help you feel full. If you only consume protein and fiber, your body will use them for energy and try to break them down as quickly as possible.

But if you’re also eating a lot of fat, your body will take longer to break it down and release it as energy. It can help you feel full for longer and reduce your risk of overeating.

It means eating leafy greens and other vegetables daily.

One of the most significant differences between the Mediterranean diet and Keto is that the former doesn’t include any vegetables that grow above ground. On the other hand, Keto recommends eating a wide variety of vegetables daily.

You’re supposed to eat as many leafy greens as possible in your daily diet. While a Mediterranean diet can be healthy, it’s also relatively high in calories.

On the other hand, a keto diet is relatively low in calories due to the lack of carbohydrates. It can be great if you’re trying to lose weight, but you must eat many more vegetables to stay healthy.

It means eating fish frequently, but only some of the time.

Fish is one of the most common foods on a Mediterranean diet, so if you want to follow the Mediterranean-inspired keto diet, you’ll have to eat fish frequently. However, not all fish is created equal.

Most types of fish are low in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are suitable for you, but some types are high in mercury which is bad for you. To follow the Mediterranean-inspired keto diet, you should eat fish like salmon and tuna regularly.